Pune: Land dealer arrested for murder of priest over suspicion of black magic

According to an officer from the Pune rural police, “Our investigation revealed that on September 22, the deceased had gone to the nearby town of Nasrapur. A man named Swapnil Dnyanoba Khutwad, 30, who lives in the same village, was seen following him. Around 10:30 PM on September 22, when the priest left Nasrapur on his motorcycle, Swapnil followed him on his own two-wheeler.”

The investigation revealed that Swapnil had a strong superstitious belief that Khutwad was practicing black magic against him. According to the police officer, “Swapnil is a small-time land dealer who attributed his lack of success in business endeavors to this. He also believed that a physical deformity suffered by a family member was a result of Khutwad’s black magic.”

On the night of September 22, after following Khutwad, Swapnil intercepted him on the bridge over the Gunjavani river. The officer stated, “He bludgeoned him to death and threw his body in the river. He then stuck the bike on the bridge’s railing in a way so as to make it look like a crash.”

 This revelation turned the case from an accidental death into a homicide investigation, highlighting the tragic consequences of superstition and violence.

“Swapnil could not be found at his house. We launched a search for him and detained him from the Khed Shivapur area where he was hiding,” said the police officer, adding that he has been placed under arrest. The investigation of the case was conducted by a joint team from the Rajgad police station and the local crime branch of the Pune rural police. This coordinated effort was crucial in apprehending Swapnil and uncovering the details surrounding the priest’s tragic death.